The Shifters: Katrina

The shifters were quick to lead me down to the village inside the compound called lluita. They said that they were apart of the elite shifters that acted as guards for the village, and that their leader awaited my arrival. While most of them left to get whatever things I had into my 'dorm,' Kami and Koren led me toward one of the larger buildings. It had endless windows and thin supports, but several people walked in and out without worry. Those walking by all looked like regular people, dressed in similar clothes with the same under layer as Molly. Some of them even wore bands of a certain colour. They were either red, green, white or blue. Even a newbie like me could tell they were meant to mark someone's element.

The doors to the place were nonexistent, but the doorframe itself was ridiculously tall -- for a human. Various woods and light coloured stones were used in the construction of the airy, luxurious building. People sat at various coffee tables laughing with others, some of them preferring to study while sitting in the fading light. The darkness of the sky had been noticeably lessened when we entered the compound -- the outside world was much darker than it was in here. I assumed their animal sides just enjoyed the light more, but it didn't seem reasomable considering they probably all had night vision.

Maybe there's just some sort of magic that threw off the time, I thought, turning away from the windows to follow the two shifters up the stairs. A wolf and a snake. There were so many things out that, so many animals, that these people could be.

I wonder, what would I be?

Maybe a panda. Then I could sleep all day, I thought with a smile, keeping in step with Kami and Koren. We only had to walk up two flights of stairs to reach the floor we needed to get to, and there wasn't even a hallway branching off into several rooms. The second floor was just one large office, with couches and desks and bookshelves all over. A single large, cushioned chair sat facing the windows of the building, allowing the woman sitting in it to stare out at her compound. It was clear she was the leader, since both of the shifters bowed to her before approaching.

Being a little shit that I am, I tilted my head up and followed without bowing. So far, these people were only hidden criminals. I'd already seen them assault others and was kidnapped first hand.

Kami stepped forward, hands clasped behind her back. "Coraline, we have returned with a young shifter," she told her, standing straight as she motioned to me. I rasied an eyebrow, remaining silent. Beside me, Koren was holding back a snicker.

The woman, Coraline, got to her feet with a warm smile, tucking one side of hair behind her ear. She had raven hair, lovely mocha skin and piercing, unnatural, pink eyes. Her dark skin was covered in a pattern of tattoos that started on her cheekbones and traveled down underneath her blouse. They were spots, like a cheetah's.

"Hello," Coraline said, eyes on me. Her voice was the deepest I'd heard from a woman. "It's nice to meet you, young one. I am the leader of the lluita compound, Coraline Jones. Cheetah shifter, by the way."

"Katrina Roberts. Unknown everything," I replied dryly, listening as the woman laughed. Koren rolled his eyes, and Kami hit my arm. However, when Coraline approached me, both of them backed away. Her hands glowed with white light, the air around us stirring.

Coraline leaned down toward me, and I noticed how much taller than me she was. "How did you get mixed up in this, Katrina? I sent my shifters out to retrieve the shifter giving off power waves for the past few years, not some girl."

"Power waves?" I asked, tilting my head to the side.

The woman smiled, crossing her arms and leaning back. She looked back out the window, watching shifters walk by. At least I assumed they were all shifters.

"When one of us shifts, we let off a wave of energy. Someone had been letting off waves of energy not too far away, but they were strong. Normally, it isn't enough energy to alert a shifter to its presence, but this was impressive. Seven of the guarding shifters went to find the source," Coraline explained, smiling wider, "and came back with you, Katrina. A girl who says she doesn't know her form. So no power waves could come from you, but in theory, maybe they could. Powerful waves can also come from the actions of shifters, but you don't even know your element."

The woman sighed, but her smile didn't leave. Part of me swore she was entertained by the mystery of the power waves she spoke of, and the thought was reinforced when she glanced at me with a smirk.

"Do you get into many fights, Katrina?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, looking away like a scolded child. "Yeah, and I win them too. I'm a troublemaker, have been for a long time," I spat truthfully. Even if I loved trouble, I wouldn't lie to a cheetah. Especially not one in a position of power over where I would be living for some time. Maybe.

Who knows, really, I thought as Coraline's lips twisted into a knowing smile.

"Interesting. Well, Kami and Koren will get you settled in. Katrina, go hang out downstairs for a while, please. I'm going to discuss a few things with these two first."

I nodded, turning on my heel and heading for the door. The adults began to whisper, but I couldn't have cared less. After all, I had a compound to explore.

Catch you later, if I don't get lost, I thought with a grin as I started down the stairs. On the first floor, there were two new people at the tables. Two girls, teenagers like me, with bands around their arms. One white, one blue. They were talking loudly and laughing, carefree as they sat near the windows. I passed them without a care, grinning in anticipation.

Which only grew when one of them got to their feet, catching up to me. "Hey!"

I stopped, her hand wrapping around my arm. Her band was white, and her blue friend waltzed over as well. They both watched me in suspicion, and I flashed them a sweet smile.

"Can I help you?"

The one with white didn't let go as her friend questioned me. "Who are you?"

I winked. "I'm new here, and about to go find some fun. Care to help me?"

The girls glanced at each other before the one with white let me go, their lips slowing turning upward into a smile.

"You're on, newbie."